Aeroplane propeller



Jan. 22, 1929.

F. w. JATUNN AEROFLANE PROPELLER il July 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6 ln'ventar Bank WcJZz fun/7v,

Alta/my Jan. 22, 1929.

F. W. JATUNN AEROPLANE PROPELLER Filed July 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fn-ven t or Fmmwzrmm By M Attorngy ill Patented den. 22, i929.

tenses FRANK W. JA'IUNN,

AEROPLAIJE Application filed July 16,

collapsing and spreading the vanes which is adjustable, so as to control the spreading and collapsing action as may be desired. Another very important object of the invention resides in the provision of a propeller structure of this nature which is simple, strong and durable, inexpensive to manufac ture, thoroughly efhcient and reliable in operation, easy to manipulate and adjust, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

/With the above and numerous other ob jects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as. will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. I

In the drawing Figure 1 is an edge elevation of the propeller. t

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 3-r-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is anenlargement of a right hand fragment of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken substantially on the line 6- -6 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3. Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that I have devised an elongated frame including a pair of parallel spaced coextensive side rails 55, formed on their inner sides with dove-tail grooves or channels 6. In each channel 6 there is slidable two dovetail bars 7 connected together by a link plate 8 having an elongated slot 9 longitudinally therein.

A plurality of rungs 10 are mounted be tween the side rails 5 and a plurality of simi- OF TRULY, MONTANA.

PROPELLER.

1927. 'Serial No. 286,267.

lar rungs are mounted between the slide bars 7. These rungs are grouped in two series, one series to each side of the median transverse dimension of the frame, which is the axis of the frame, as will be more apparent as the description proceeds. i

The adjacent rungs l0 and 11 are connected by flexible sheets 14. These sheets 14.- provide collapsible vanes disposed transversely of the frame. The. sheets are tightly fitted about the sleeves 15 on the rungs as is indicated at 15, so as to eliminate friction between the rungs and the sheets. These flexible sheets could be constructed of some impervious airproof material, said material notbeing of the essence of the invention. 1

i l; pair of panelled brackets 16 receive the central portions of the side rails 5, and have projecting outwardly and centrally therefrom, hubs 17 having mounted therein roller bearings 18. A pair of standards 19 or other suitable supporting structures have journaled therein as at 20, a shaft 21 which is journaled through the hub 17 and also extends through the slot 9, of the link plate 8. Immediately inside of the link plates 8, the shaft 21 is formed with a pair of shanks 22. A rod 23 connects two of'the opposed bars 7 and pitmen 23 are engaged with the rod23 and the cranks 22. Cranks 24 are provided on the shaft 21, and are controlled by rods25 nor 1n any other suitable manner, so that the shaft 21 is normally stationary, but maybe adjusted as may be desired.

Arms 26 project in opposite directions from each channel bracket 16 and have guy wires 27, anchored to their extremities,

said guy Wires extending outwardly to the extremities of the side reds, and crossing each other as is clearlyillustrated in Fig. 2, for properly distributing the strains and stresses. i

The two bars 7 in each channel 6 are preferably formed in one piece, then slotted at its center as is indicated at 9' to register with the slot 9, so that the shaft 21 may project therethrough, the link plate 8 functioning as a strengthening element. 7

Each side rail 5 has one end portion of one longitudinal edge feathered as indicated at 80 while the other end of the other longitudinal edge is likewise feathered.

The structure has now been described with sufficient particularity to fully comprehend the operation of the propeller in one embodiment thereof. Presuming that the propeller is operating to rotate in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 3, it will be seenthat the right hand series of collapsible vanes will be adjacent rungs of the bars, means for slidspread, and the left hand series collapsed, so that the half of the propeller moving downwardly will tend to lift the axis of the propeller, and the half of the propeller moving upwardly will offer a minimum of resistance.

As the half which is moving upwardly moves around to move downwardly, the stationary cranks 22 will cause the pitman 23 to slide the bars so as to collapse those which were spread, and to spread those vanes which were collapsed. It will be apparent that the time of collapsing and spreading of the vanes is controlled by rotating the shaft 21 through crankQ L, as may be desired.

In using the propellers on an aeroplane, it is contemplated, to use them in opposed pairs. The arrangement, of the propellers on the aeroplane, is not of the essence of the invention.

It is thought that the construction, operation, and advantages of this invention will now be uite apparent to those skilled in this art wit out a more detailed description thereof. The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail merely by way of example, since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement'of parts may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed, or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is V 1. In a propeller structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pair of side rails, a pair of bars, one slidable on each rail, a plurality of rungs between the rails, a plurality of rungs between the bars, flexible strips fixed to the rungs of the rails and to adjacent rungs of the bars, and means for sliding the bars in relation to the rails to spread and collapse the flexible strips.

2. In a'propeller, structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pair of side rails, a pair of bars, one slidable on each rail,

a plurality of rungs between the rails, a plurality of rungs between the bars, flexible strips fixed to the rungs of the rails and to ing the bars in relation to the rails to spread and collapse the flexible strips, said rungs being arranged in two series, one series having the strips thereon spread, while the strips on the other are collapsed and vice versa.

3. In a propeller structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pair of side rails, a pair of bars, one slidable on each rail, a plurality of rungs between the rails, a plurality of rungs between the bars, flexible strips fixed to the rungs of the rails and to adjacent rungs of the bars, means for sliding the bars in relation to the rails to spread and collapse the flexible springs, said rungs being arranged in two series, one series having the strips thereon spread, while the strips on the other are collapsed and vice versa, a

shaft, said frame being journaled intermediate its ends on said shaft between the two series, said shaft having a crank, a rod between the rails, a pitman engaged with the rods and with the crank to cause the bars to slide in the rails, as the same rotate.

4. In a propeller structure of the class described, a frame, rungs in the frame, members slidable in the frame, rungs on the members, sleeves rotatable about the rungs, a plurality of flexible strips attached to the sleeves of adjacent rungs, so that the slidable members may be moved to collapse and spread the flexible strips and the sleeves will prevent wear thereon. a

5. In a'propeller, a frame, means for journalling the frame along and intermediate transverse dimension, two series of collapsible vanes in the frame, one series to each side of said dimension, mechanism for simultaneously collapsing all of the vanes in one series, and simultaneously spreading all of the vanes in the other series, and vice versa, during the rotation of the frame, and means for adjusting said mechanism to control the time of the collapsing and spreading of the vanes in the circle described by the frame, in rotate ing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK WV. JATUNN. 

